D96
Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation
Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5
The Grünfeld Defence is a hypermodern opening where Black allows White to build a big pawn centre, then attacks it with pieces and the ...c5 break. The central tension creates exciting, tactical positions.
History & Notable Players
Introduced by Ernst Grünfeld in 1922. It became a world-class weapon through Vasily Smyslov and Bobby Fischer, and was later used extensively by Garry Kasparov in his World Championship matches.
Top Players in this Opening
Related Openings
D90 - Grünfeld Defense: Flohr Variation233D91 - Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Petrosian System224D92 - Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Hungarian Attack92D93 - Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Hungarian Variation126D94 - Grünfeld Defense: Flohr Defense382D95 - Grünfeld Defense: Pachman Variation68D97 - Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation309D98 - Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Keres Variation59D99 - Grünfeld Defense: Russian Variation, Smyslov Variation43
Best Games
Smyslov, Vassily vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
World Championship 18th 1948Notable
Ivanchuk,V vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1/2-1/2
Chess.com Rapid Wk1 Swiss 2022
Radjabov,T vs Morozevich,A0-1
SportAccord Rapid Men 2012 2012
Georgiev,Vl vs Kamsky,G0-1
40th Olympiad Open 2012
Kasimdzhanov,R vs Shirov,A0-1
Bundesliga 2003-4 2004
Piket, Jeroen vs Kamsky, Gata1-0
Amber-blind 4th 1995
Piket, Jeroen vs Kamsky, Gata1/2-1/2
Amber-rapid 3rd 1994
Azmaiparashvili, Zurab vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Tilburg rapid20 1994
Portisch, Lajos vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1/2-1/2
Hoogovens 1969
Keres, Paul vs Smyslov, Vassily1/2-1/2
Leningrad/Moscow 1941
Euwe, Max vs Botvinnik, Mikhail1-0
AVRO 1938
Ebrahimi Herab,Hamidreza vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Titled Tue 28th Oct 2025 2025
Vetokhin,Savva vs Grischuk,A0-1
ch-RUS Rapid 2025 2025
Yu Yangyi vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
TechM GCL 2024 2024
Giri,A vs Xiong,Jeffery1/2-1/2
Chessable Masters Div 2 W 2024
Shankland,S vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
8th Gashimov Mem Blitz 2022
Esipenko,Andrey vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Chess.com RCC Wk11 Swiss 2022
Maghsoodloo,Parham vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Chess.com Rapid Wk8 KO 2022
Maghsoodloo,Parham vs Abdusattorov,Nodirbek1-0
Chess.com Rapid Wk8 Swiss 2022
Firouzja,Alireza vs Sindarov,Javokhir1/2-1/2
FIDE World Cup 2021 2021